Twelve years after Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister for the first time, those who have watched him closely describe a leader driven by a singular obsession: securing India’s rise and reshaping its place in the world. Prime Minister Modi’s organized foreign policy knows no bounds. Hindustan Times Executive Editor Shishir Guptawho has known Modi for more than 25 years, paints a picture of a workaholic strategist with an extraordinary clarity of purpose, an uncompromising streak on national security, and a cohesive but formidable internal team.
A leader who plans and then executes
Gupta’s central characterization of Modi is that of a leader who moves effortlessly between the big picture and the reality on the ground. He describes a Prime Minister who can “see the lay of the land at 50,000 feet” and then delve into operational details and implementation screws, combining visualization with rigorous execution.
Gupta says this is what sets Modi apart from many of his predecessors: a long-term vision strongly coupled with the stamina and discipline to see things through. Described as “committed to India, passionate about India, passionate about Hindus”, Modi is someone who truly believes in the idea of ”Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” and places special emphasis on women’s empowerment as a political and social priority.
Gupta suggests that those who work with him encounter a man who works 24/7, who listens to people with great patience, who rarely reacts hastily — but once he makes a decision, who stands by it firmly. This proves how reliable it is. He does not forget or forgive easily, a characteristic that shapes his security policies and doctrine.
Bringing India to the ‘global top table’
On foreign policy, Gupta credits Modi with systematically building India’s capabilities and visibility on the global stage over the past 12 years. This includes disaster relief missions, vaccine diplomacy, infrastructure partnerships and crisis evacuations, repeatedly positioning India as a trusted responder and partner.
In this conversation, Modi is clear about what he wants the world to see when it looks at India. A vision that is not ambiguous, a vision that comes from his experience as an ordinary man in the country. He has a defined line on China, terrorism, the Gulf, and the United States, and is willing to break away from previous approaches rooted in sentiment or legacy. When China pushed back at Doklam, Pangong Tso and Galwan later, Gupta says Modi’s instinct was direct confrontation, not evasion.
A revealing tale comes from the Doklam crisis. When National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, that the PLA was moving towards Jamphiri Ridge and Torsa Nala, Modi’s response was blunt: “So what are you waiting for?” Gupta points out that the message was to stand firm and block the move – something that was later reflected in the approach to Galwan and eastern Ladakh.
Gupta also emphasizes Modi’s balancing act with major powers:
- Deepening relations with the Gulf states – the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman – in a way that “no one had done in the past.”
- Close working relations with Russia and its leadership, while at the same time strengthening relations with the United States and Israel.
- Willingness to stay away from Washington and not submit to its policies – such as continuing to buy Russian oil – when it is believed that Indian interests require it. A clear step that defines ‘India First’.
On evacuations – from Yemen to Sudan to Ukraine – Gupta portrays Modi as personally invested in ensuring the protection of Indians abroad, and sees this as part of his core responsibility as prime minister.
An early meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in September 2014, exemplified Modi’s combination of communication and assertiveness. Modi rolled out the red carpet for President Xi in Ahmedabad, but when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army trooped into Chumar during the visit, he made it clear that if Chinese troops did not withdraw, he would assume the move had Xi’s approval. For Gupta, this exemplifies Modi’s style: polite in diplomacy, but frank and forthright when core interests are threatened. A protector, a guide.
“Tough as nails” on terrorism
If there is one area where Gupta believes Modi has radically reshaped India’s position, it is the fight against terrorism. He describes the Prime Minister as having a “clear-cut policy”: If terrorist acts are carried out against India, there will be a punitive response, and nothing will go without consequences.
Gupta recounts in detail the events of February 27, 2019, a day after the Balakot airstrikes (Operation Bandar) on the JeM camp following the Pulwama attack. When Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was arrested in Pakistan and images of him bloodied in custody were broadcast, Modi’s reaction, as Gupta recounted, was immediate escalation.
According to him, the Prime Minister sent a message through the then RAW chief that “if this boy is touched again” there would be dire consequences, and Prithvi missiles were deployed in the Rajasthan sector as a signal. The Americans and others were quietly told that unless Abhinandan was released, Pakistan would face a devastating response. Shortly afterwards, Imran Khan announced in the Pakistan National Assembly that Abhinandan would be released.
Gupta cites another example from ‘Operation Sindoor’, when the Indian Navy sought clearance to strike the port of Karachi and the Pakistan Navy. Advisers have warned that any retaliatory strike on a refinery like Jamnagar could hurt India economically. Modi’s alleged response: India has already weathered the worst economic shock during the coronavirus crisis, and a potential hit should not prevent necessary measures.
He believes that the talks with Pakistan are conditional: terrorism must be dismantled first; Only then can dialogue have meaning. Gupta links this approach to broader decisions such as the surgical strikes, Akot, the handling of Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, and the tough campaign against left-wing extremism, claiming that together these decisions reflect a prime minister intent on securing India’s “rightful place” in the global community.
Illegal immigration as a security issue
Gupta also highlights an aspect of Modi’s record that he believes has been underappreciated: raising illegal immigration as a national security issue. From his point of view, Modi is the first prime minister to portray this problem not only as a political or social problem, but as a strategic challenge that could change the demographic balance in India.
Pointing to the inflows from Bangladesh, Nepal and other neighboring countries – many of which were politically unstable – Gupta says Modi sees “demographics as destiny” and therefore insists that “India is for Indians”. He decisively emphasizes that it is not about religion; When Modi says “Indians,” he means everyone who is part of the nation, not just Hindus.
The concern, as Gupta explains, is twofold:
- Security implications of continued flows from troubled regions such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- The political distortion that arises when it is claimed that illegal immigration is used to build vote banks, rather than prioritizing the ability of existing citizens to access resources and opportunities.
Here too, Gupta says, Modi’s strength lies in timing – political and political timing. He has a knack for seizing on issues, turning opposition attacks into opportunities, and using controversial debates to advance his agenda.
Team Modi: The inner circle and the voids
Contrary to the image of Modi as an isolated figure, Gupta emphatically states that he is not alone. He has a clear “Team Modi”, most prominently in the Cabinet Committee on Security and the National Security System.
At the heart of this team, Gupta places:
- Home Minister Amit Shah: Modi’s closest political aide for 30-35 years, and has been known to him since Shah was a teenager. The two once campaigned together on a Vespa motorcycle in Gujarat. Shah, himself an astute politician and workaholic, is Modi’s favorite when it comes to internal security and political strategy.
- Don’t miss it National Security R. Ajit Doval: He is described as an exceptional operational planner and executor who formulates national security strategy and covert responses.
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar: A former bureaucrat-turned-politician who, by Gupta’s account, “knows his subject”, is eloquent and unafraid to take foreign policy decisions.
- Defense Minister Rajnath Singh: The leader who proposed Modi’s prime ministerial nomination in 2013 and remains close to him.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: Implementer of Modi’s economic vision, directing fiscal and tax policy.
Beyond this core, Gupta points to the roles played by Nitin Gadkari in infrastructure and ministers dealing with agriculture and farmer welfare, which Modi sees as essential to India’s long-term path.
However, even with this strong replacement, there are absences that Modi “definitely misses”, according to Gupta. Two names stand out:
- Arun Jaitley: A close friend and confidant with whom Modi can laugh, joke and disagree. Jaitley worked as a political advisor, advising not only Modi but also Amit Shah and others, and helping with policy and policy management.
- Manohar Parrikar: The defense minister who agreed to a pension despite internal resistance, approved the Rafale deal, and wrote a detailed three-page memo on the future of the Indian Air Force, which Modi described as the best presentation he had ever received. Gupta believes that Modi and India lack Parrikar’s clarity and decisiveness.
Bali analogy
Gupta recalls that there was a saying in Gujarat that Modi resembled Bali, the Kishkindha king in the Ramayana, who was believed to gain half the strength of any opponent he fought. For those who choose to confront Modi, the implicit warning is that they may end up strengthening Modi in the process.
Taken together, Gupta’s recollections and anecdotes paint a picture of a disciplined prime minister, intensely political but keenly focused on security, quick to act against perceived threats, and relentless in pursuit of his vision of India as a developed nation by 2047 — a goal, he says, “of which he has no doubt.”
